Machine workpiece handling

ABSTRACT

A loading and unloading device for a machine, a machine for machining panel-like workpieces, and a workpiece support for such a machine and a method for loading and unloading such a machine, having a loading and unloading module, wherein the loading and unloading module has a vertically upwardly oriented raising device for lifting a cut-free workpiece part and a vertically downwardly oriented gripping device (38) for holding an unmachined, panel-like workpiece.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority under 35U.S.C. § 120 from PCT Application No. PCT/EP2017/062928 filed on May 29,2018, which claims priority from German Application No. 10 2016 110542.2 filed on Jun. 8, 2016. The entire contents of each of thesepriority applications are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a machine for the separating processing ofplate-shaped workpieces, and to a loader/unloader and a workpiecesupport for such a machine, and related methods.

BACKGROUND

A plate-shaped workpiece processing machine with a workpiece support isknown from DE 10 2015 207 122.

A separate handling device can be provided for removing the processedworkpiece parts from a first support part. Alternatively, a manualremoval of the processed components is possible. Smaller workpiece partscan be discharged through a gap between the first support part and thefurther support part. Such a discharging of processed workpiece parts isknown from DE 10 2013 226 818 B4.

Furthermore, a machine having a workpiece support is known from US2003/0147729 A1, in which a handling device is arranged next to theworkpiece support. An unprocessed workpiece is supplied to the workpiecesupport by this handling device. The workpiece to be processed is movedtransversely to the movement direction of the workpiece support by meansof a workpiece movement device.

Furthermore, a machine for processing plate-shaped workpieces is knownfrom DE 10 2014 209 811 A1, in which a lifting device provided below theworkpiece is positioned in relation to the workpiece part to be removedafter separating the workpiece parts from the plate-shaped workpiece.

SUMMARY

The invention features a loading and unloading device and a machine forprocessing plate-shaped workpieces, by means of which compact structuralshapes and a multiple use of movement axes and movement devices ispossible.

One aspect of the invention features a loading and unloading device fora machine for the separating processing of plate-shaped workpieces. Thedevice has at least one loading and unloading module having a liftingdevice aligned vertically upwards for raising a freely separatedworkpiece part in relation to a workpiece support, and a gripping devicealigned vertically downwards for fixing an unprocessed plate-shapedworkpiece. Support struts of the loading and unloading device, whichsupport the loading and loading module, can be moveably received up anddown on a machine base frame or on an individual device. Thus, theloading and unloading module can be lowered onto a loading level, suchthat gripping an unprocessed workpiece is made possible in order to thenbe raised to a higher level in order to deposit the plate-shapedmaterial on a support part of a workpiece support. Furthermore, theloading and unloading module can be raised to a lifting level along thesame axis and by means of the same movement device, in order to lift upthe processed workpiece resting on a support part of the workpiecesupport in relation to the workpiece support surface of the workpiecesupport. The support struts can be part of a closed support frame, whichshiftably bears at least one support beam, on which the loading andunloading module is shiftably mounted. Alternatively, the support strutscan be mounted without mutual connection to be guided in a base frame,or have at least one crossbar for the mutual connection.

With the loading and unloading device, it is preferably provided thatthe lifting device be positioned above and the gripping device below thesupport beam, which can be shifted on the support struts or on thesupport frame. As a result, a compact structural shape can be created,in order to be able to also integrate this loading and unloading deviceinto a base frame of a machine having a workpiece support.

The lifting device and the gripping device are preferably fixedlyattached to each other by a common guiding section and, preferably,mounted by the guiding section on the support beam and can be shiftedtogether along the support beam. This contributes to the compactstructural shape of the loading and unloading device. Moreover, thecontrol for a positioning and a shifting movement corresponding to thehandling task of the lifting device and/or the gripping device issimplified.

It is preferably provided that the lifting device and the grippingdevice of the loading and unloading module be arranged offset in thelongitudinal direction of the support beam, such that the lifting deviceis positioned above a support strut in an end position of the loadingand unloading module relative to the support beam. This has theadvantage, for example, that the lifting device can be positioned inthis end position next to a processing position, e.g., a cutting gapbetween a first and a second support part of the workpiece support, andworkpiece parts can also be raised and unloaded, which are positionednext to the cutting gap.

Several loading and unloading modules can be provided on the at leastone support beam of the loading and unloading device, said loading andunloading modules being able to be transferred into a position inrelation to one another in which the lifting devices are arrangedadjacent to one another and form a lifting unit with a large surfacearea. This enables high flexibility during an unloading process. Forexample, the individual loading and unloading modules provided on thesupport beam can each be allocated to different workpiece parts, or forma lifting unit with a large surface area depending on the number oflifting devices lined up one next to the other.

Advantageously, the loading and unloading modules arranged on thesupport beam are shiftably powered by a common drive. As a result, acost effective and compact design can, in turn, be created. Acontrollable coupling can be provided on each loading and unloadingmodule to individually control the loading and unloading modules for ashifting movement along the support beam, said coupling being able to becoupled to the drive.

Firstly, a rough positioning can take place along a first shifting pathto position the loading and unloading module in a lifting position, saidrough positioning being controlled by means of a path measuring deviceof the drive for the loading and unloading module. Then, a finepositioning of the loading and unloading module can take place by meansof a comparison of the measured values of the path measuring device ofthe drive with the absolute measured values. After this, an exactpositioning of the loading and unloading module is set for the liftingdevice along the support beam, in order to enable a secure lifting ofthe workpiece part in relation to the workpiece support surface.

With the loading and unloading device, it is furthermore preferablyprovided that at least one support beam shiftably driven along thesupport strut or the support frame and a shiftable and non-drivensupport beam are arranged on the support strut or on the support frame.This non-driven support beam is shifted by the adjacent driven supportbeam, according to a so-called master-slave principle. As a result,there is no need for a drive. In order to be able to also shift thenon-driven support beam in a pulling manner, a coupling device forcoupling the two support beams has to be provided. In particular, twosupport beams shiftably driven along the support strut or the supportframe and a shiftable and non-driven support beam between the other twocan be arranged on the loading and unloading device, such that thenon-driven support beam can be moved in a pushing manner respectively ina positive and negative direction by means of one of the two drivensupport beams, and a coupling device is not necessary.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the non-driven support beamonly has at least one gripping device and no lifting device. Thegripping device supports the loading process with large plate-shapedworkpieces so that these do not sag. Since the freely separated orprocessed workpiece parts are smaller than the unprocessed workpieces,the number of lifting devices of the loading and unloading device isadvantageously chosen to be smaller than the number of gripping devices.

It is preferably provided that several gripping devices of thenon-driven support beam are arranged on a carriage which can be shiftedalong the support beam. These gripping devices can thus be moved as wellby the unprocessed workpiece, when this is moved horizontally, forexample when shifting into the clamping claw of the workpiece movementunit. In order to return these gripping devices or the carriage into thestarting position, a return element, in particular a pneumatic cylinderor a spring, can be provided, preferably in the support beam.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the lifting device of theloading and unloading module extends transversely to the support beam insuch a way that the two lifting devices of the driven support beam abuton (are adjacent to) each other on the end face side with the sequenceof two driven support beams and a support beam lying in between withouta lifting device. In this way, a closed lifting surface emerges whenseveral lifting devices are used in order to remove large workpieceparts.

The lifting device of the loading and unloading module advantageouslyconsists of several individually controllable pin modules, which haveone or more lifting pins, which are controlled, preferably alsoindividually controlled, in an extendable and retractable manner. Thismakes it possible to exchange individual pin modules and to complementthe lifting device in a simple manner by further pin modules, when theextent of the lifting device is to be changed.

Advantageously, the extending direction of the lifting pins iscontrolled pneumatically. A pressure force of the individual liftingpins can be adjusted depending on the number of the lifting pins to beextended. Each lifting pin can apply, for example, a force of 100Newton. If several lifting pins are used to lift a workpiece part, thenthe force of the individual lifting pins can be limited, such that theoverall force lies below a fixed threshold value.

The gripping device of the loading and unloading module preferablycomprises at least one suction element, in particular a vacuum suctioncup, which can advantageously be moved back and forth in the verticaldirection. As a result of the vertical shifting movement of the grippingdevice, it is made possible that there is a detaching strategy whengripping and raising an unprocessed workpiece from a stack ofunprocessed workpieces, even if there is an increased adhesion forcebetween the workpiece to be raised and the workpiece remaining on thestack. A so-called scaling process can be initiated and carried out by atime-offset vertical movement of several gripping devices along asupport beam.

Both the movement of the lifting pins and the vertical movement of thegripping device of the loading and unloading module can be controllableby means of a common compressed air supply. As a result, in turn, theconstruction is made simpler and a more compact constructive form isobtained.

Adjacent the gripping device, a hold-down device can be arrangedvertically pointing downwards on the loading and unloading module. As aresult, the workpiece to be raised can be held down during a verticalraising movement of the gripping device in order to thus support thescaling of the workpiece from the workpiece stack.

Another aspect of the invention features a machine for the separatingprocessing of plate-shaped workpieces having a workpiece surface forbearing a workpiece to be processed and for bearing a processedworkpiece part, in which the above-described loading and unloadingdevice is selectively movable vertically below the workpiece surface orlaterally adjacent to the workpiece surface, and in which the workpiecesurface or a surface part of the workpiece support can be moved orshifted horizontally above and below the loading and unloading device.

In some embodiments, it is provided that the workpiece support has afirst support part and a further support part, wherein the furthersupport part can be moved horizontally, and the loading and unloadingdevice is arranged below the first support part. As a result, theloading and unloading device can be integrated and positioned inside amachine base frame of the machine in a space-saving manner.

In this case, the support struts or the support frame of the loading andunloading device are preferably formed to also receive and to supportthe first support part of the workpiece support. In this manner, thefirst support part can be shifted together with the loading andunloading device in terms of height, such that the further support partcan be positioned by means of a horizontal shifting movement under thefirst support part and under the loading and unloading device in orderto be loaded with an unprocessed workpiece. In addition, the supportstruts or the support frame of the loading and unloading device may bemoveable upwards so far that the further support part can be arrangedunder the gripping devices with the workpiece set thereon.

According to an alternative, particularly with existing machines, anarrangement of the loading and unloading device in a separate frame nextto the machine base frame or the workpiece support of the machine ismade possible, in order to automate the loading and unloading and thusto obtain a cycle time reduction and a process time optimizationresulting from this. The requirement for this is that the workpiecesupport or at least one support part of the workpiece support of themachine can be shifted horizontally in order to be able to be positionedabove and below the loading and unloading device.

When the workpiece support or a support part of the machine is formed byseveral profile bodies, which are spaced apart in parallel to oneanother by respectively forming a gap, and when the lifting device hasseveral lifting pins for extending and retracting, which have a spacingin relation to one another in the direction perpendicular to the profilebodies, said spacing corresponding to the spacing of the gaps, the oneflexible positioning of the loading and unloading modules is thus madepossible. In a direction parallel to the gaps between the profilebodies, the loading and unloading modules can be positioned in anystep-less manner.

Another aspect of the invention features a workpiece support for amachine for the separating processing of plate-shaped workpieces, whichhas a workpiece support surface, which is formed by several profilebodies spaced apart in parallel to one another and each respectivelyform a gap between two adjacent profile bodies. Each of the profilebodies receives either support balls or rollers for bearing a workpieceor at least one brush element, which extends along the profile body andon which a workpiece supported by the workpiece support abuts. Such aworkpiece support enables a step-less positioning of lifting pins of alifting device in a direction on an X-Y plane, along which the profilebodies of the workpiece support surface extend. Thus, in a direction ofthe X-Y plane, independently of a grid or hole pattern of the workpiecesupport, a lifting position can be controlled by the lifting device andcan be assumed without steps. Preferably, the gaps formed between theprofile bodies extend in parallel to a (main) shifting axis of aprocessing tool of the machine. A preferably generated shifting movementof the plate-shaped workpiece on the workpiece support or the supportpart advantageously takes place in the direction perpendicular to thegaps in the XY plane. This arrangement enables a maximum flexibilitywhen positioning the lifting device(s) in relation to the workpiece partto be lifted. In the direction perpendicular to the gaps, in which alifting device is joined on the grid of the gaps in the workpiecesurface and cannot be positioned in a step-less manner, the workpiece(part) can be shunted in a step-less manner. The result of this is thata step-less positioning of the lifting device relative to the workpiecepart is possible despite the grid in the workpiece surface.

It is preferably provided that the profile bodies are formed to beflexurally stiff in their longitudinal extension direction. As a result,larger workpiece support surfaces can also be spanned, and a planarsupport surface is created. Advantageously, the profile bodies areformed as rectangular tubes or as T-shape or H-shaped profile bodies. Inorder to ensure a sufficiently flexural stiffness of the profiles, it ispreferably provided that the ratio of a length of the profile bodies toa width of the profile bodies is less than 150. The profile bodies thushave a minimum width depending on their length, such that they are notbent too greatly by the frictional forces during the movement of anabutting workpiece. In order to obtain a sufficient flexural stiffnessof the profile bodies perpendicular to the workpiece support surface,the ratio of a length to a height of the profile bodies is under 100.

The threshold values stated here can be exceeded if the profilebodies—for example in the middle of the workpiece support surface—areconnected to one another by a cross-member. However, such a cross-memberreduces the flexibility when positioning the lifting pin, since itcauses a dead zone for the effect of the lifting pins.

The profile bodies preferably have an end face side aligned in parallelto the workpiece support surface, on which end face side a brush elementis provided. As a result, a workpiece support surface formed by brushescan be created, along which the workpiece to be processed can be movedforwards and backwards in a direction with a low friction for theprocessing.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the brush element comprisesseveral bristle bundles, and at least one row of bristle bundlesextending along the outer longitudinal edge of the brush element islaterally outwardly inclined in relation to a vertical alignment. Theangle of inclination of these bristle bundles starting from theperpendicular of the workpiece support outwards preferably lies below45° here, so that workpieces moved across the workpiece support do nothook with the bristle bundles.

As a result of these brush elements on the profile bodies, the gapbetween them can be reduced, such that a sufficiently sealed workpiecesupport is formed, and workpieces with any contour can be moved forwardsand backwards on the workpiece support, without being caught on thebristles. To do so, preferably no uncovered gap is formed on any pointof the workpiece support; in any case a space remaining between twobrush elements along the gap should be smaller than 10 mm.

Particularly preferably, the spacing of the centers of the gaps formedbetween the profile bodies is smaller than 100 mm, in order to ensure asufficient flexibility for the positioning of a lifting device, whichacts on an abutting workpiece part through the gaps.

Another aspect of the invention features a method for loading andunloading a machine described in the preceding paragraphs for theseparating processing of plate-shaped workpieces, in which a verticalmovement of the loading and unloading device and a horizontal movementof the workpiece support or a support part of the workpiece supporttakes place between the unloading of a freely separated workpiece partwith the aid of at least one lifting device of a loading and unloadingmodule of the loading and unloading module and the loading of theworkpiece support with a new workpiece, such that the workpiece supportor the workpiece part is arranged above or below the loading andunloading device. As a result of such a method, a multiple use ofmovement axes and drives is made possible.

Preferably, such a method is implemented on a workpiece support havingseveral profile bodies arranged in parallel to one another, betweenwhich profile bodies a gap is formed, in which the at least one loadingand unloading module of the loading and unloading device having thelifting device is positioned into an unloading position below theworkpiece part abutting on the workpiece support and to be lifted.

If the lifting device of the loading and unloading device has liftingpins, then the lifting pins for lifting a workpiece part can be guidedthrough the gaps formed between the profile bodies in the workpiecesupport of the machine and can be transferred for abutting on theunderside of the workpiece part to be lifted. This enables a flexibleand thus quick positioning of the lifting device in the direction inparallel to the profile bodies.

The lifting pins of the lifting device can be guided through therespective gap between two profile bodies, for example, during anextending movement from the lifting device and transferred to theunderside of the workpiece part, at least for the support.

When several lifting pins abut or engage on the workpiece part whenlifting, a tilt-free lifting can take place. In order to lift out theworkpiece part, it can be provided that a holding element is moved fromabove onto the workpiece part before the lifting of the workpiece partwith the lifting pins and this holding element is transferred into agripping position, and then the lifting movement of the lifting pins iscontrolled, and the lifting pins are guided for the support on theunderside of the workpiece part to be lifted, and then the holdingelement and the lifting pins are guided together upwards in relation tothe workpiece support surface. As a result, a secured lifting takesplace. By the lifting pins acting from the underside of the workpiecepart, it can be guaranteed that a workpiece part is lifted withoutcatching or tilting in the remaining grid.

Alternatively, it is provided that the lifting movement of the liftingpins is controlled in such a way that the workpiece part is raised inrelation to the workpiece support and, then, the holding element issupplied onto the workpiece part from above and engages the workpiecepart raised in relation to the remaining grid and transfers, forexample, into an unloading station.

The invention and further advantageous embodiments and developmentsthereof are described and explained in more detail below by means of theexamples depicted in the drawings. The features that can be seen in thedescription and the drawings can be applied, according to the invention,individually or in several different combinations.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a machine for cutting sheets having atwo-part workpiece surface.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first support part of a workpiecesupport of the machine according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a loading and unloading device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a loading and unloading module

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the loading and unloading module on thesupport beam.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a gripping device of the loading andunloading module on the support beam.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the lifting device in a workingposition.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an arrangement of several loading andunloading modules on a support beam.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of several support beams arranged next toone another of the loading and unloading device.

FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view of a workpiece support of thefirst and further support part.

FIGS. 11 to 14 are a sequential perspective view of the machineaccording to FIG. 1 in various working situations.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the machine according to FIG. 1 havingan alternative arrangement of the loading and unloading device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A machine 1 is depicted in perspective in FIG. 1, which can be formed,for example, as a laser cutting machine. This has a loading region 2 andunloading region 3. A working station 4 is arranged between the loadingregion 2 and the unloading region 3. The working station 4 comprises aportal-like guiding structure 5 having a portal carrier 6. A processinghead, in particular a laser cutting head 7, can be shifted along theportal carrier 6 in a first axis direction (Y-axis direction). Water jetcutting machines, laser welding machines, punching machines or combinedpunching-laser cutting machines represent further examples for themachine 1 according to FIG. 1.

Below the portal carrier 6 of the machine 1, a workpiece support 8extends on both sides of the processing station 4. The workpiece support8 is formed in two parts and comprises a loading-side support portion 9,as well as a further support portion 10, which can be moved relative tothe loading-side support part 9 in a second axis direction (X-axisdirection). In FIG. 1, the further support part 10 is arranged in theunloading region 3 of the machine 1.

In FIG. 1, the loading-side support portion 9 is supported on aframe-like support structure 11 of the machine 1, which is part of themachine base frame 23. A loader/unloader 12 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;covered in FIG. 1) is arranged below the loading-side support portion 9.The loader/unloader 12 is arranged above a workpiece mount, such as asteel sheet pallet 13. Unprocessed plate-shaped workpieces or steelsheets 14 are stacked on the steel sheet pallet 13. Alternatively,workpieces already at least partially processed can also be provided.The steel sheet pallets 13 can be shifted on rails 15 between a positioninside and a position outside the frame-like support structure 11.

A remaining grid pallet 16 provided as a product deposit can be shiftedin the unloading region 3 of the machine 1 on rails 17 between aposition inside the frame-like support structure 11 and a positionoutside the frame-like support structure 11. The remaining grid pallet16 bears processing products in the form of remaining grids 18.

Furthermore, FIG. 1 shows a workpiece mover 19, which is motor-driven toshift along the support structure 11 in the X-direction. Clamping claws20 of the workpiece mover 19 are configured to controllably clamp asteel sheet 14 or a remaining grid 18 on the workpiece mover 19.

The support portion 9 of the loading region 2 is depicted in perspectivein FIG. 2, with the support portion 9 of the workpiece support ispartially cut away. The loader/unloader 12 arranged below the workpiecesupport portion 9 is thus visible. The loader/unloader 12 ismotor-driven to controllably move up and down on the machine base frame23. The loader/unloader 12 comprises a support frame 25 (FIG. 3), whichhas two support struts 26 and which rests, for example, on a protrudingpart (not shown) of the machine base frame 23. Preferably, the supportframe 25 is formed as a frame sealed all around by the two supportstruts 26 and two cross-beams 27. Several support beams 29 are receivedon the support struts 26 and are shiftable in and against theY-direction between the two cross-beams 27. Two of the three supportbeams 29 are motor-driven, for example. One or more loader/unloadermodules 31 are provided on each motor-driven support beam 29. Anon-driven support beam 30, which is shiftably positioned between thetwo driven support beams 29, holds one or more gripping device 33. Forexample, three gripping devices 33 are provided on a carriage 34, whichcan be shifted along the support beam 30. Preferably, the carriage 34 isnot powered. The carriage 34 can be returned to a starting position by apneumatic cylinder (not depicted), if the carriage 34 has beentransferred into a position different from the starting position whenshifting an unprocessed workpiece 14 into the clamping claws 20 of theworkpiece mover 19.

The support beams 29 can be controllably shifted along the supportstruts 26 by means of a drive not illustrated in more detail. Here, abelt drive can be provided, which engages, for example, on the first andthird support beam 29, with a controllable coupling respectivelyprovided between each support beam 29 and the belt drive, in order toindividually control the shifting movement of each support beam 29. Thecentral support beam 30 may be forcibly moved by means of one of theouter support beams 29.

A loader/unloader module 31 is depicted in perspective and schematicallyin FIG. 4. This loader/unloader module 31 has a module guide 36, whichengages around the support beam at least partially for guiding theloader/unloader module 31. A lifter 37 is arranged above the moduleguide 36, and a gripper 38 is arranged below the module guide 36.Preferably, the lifter 37 and the gripper 38 are positioned fixedly inrelation to each other by side plates 39. The lifter 37 and the gripper38 are arranged offset in relation to each other when seen in thelongitudinal direction of the support beam.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic detailed view of the loader/unloader module onthe support beam 29. The loader/unloader module is shiftably guidedalong the support beam 29 by means of a linear guide 41. The lifter 37includes several pin modules 42, which are provided arranged in series.Each pin module 42 comprises, for example, three lifting pins 43 (FIG.7), which are arranged in a common longitudinal axis in the pin module42. The longitudinal axis of each pin module 42 is aligned in parallelto the longitudinal direction of the support beam 29. The pin modules 42arranged in series extend in the Y-direction, i.e., in parallel to theshifting direction of the support beam 29 or transversely to thelongitudinal axis of the support beam 29 over the width of the supportbeam 29. In order to extend and retract the pins 43 of the respectivepin module 42, these are pneumatically driven. It can also be providedthat each individual lifting pin 43 is controlled to be individuallyextendable in the pin module 42.

A suction element 45 of the gripper 38 is depicted lying opposite thelifter 37 and pointing downwards. This suction element 45 is formed, forexample, as a vacuum suction cup. The suction element 45 can be movedvertically up and down by means of a drive 46. Adjacent the gripper 38,advantageously on an opposite side of the support beam 29, a hold-downdevice 48 is provided, which is provided on the same level as thesuction element 45 and has a support roller.

From a perspective view from below the support beam 29 according to FIG.6, a driver 51 is shown, by which the loader/unloader module(s) can becontrollably shifted along the support beam 29. Preferably, a belt driveis provided with a drive belt 52, wherein the loader/unloader module 31can be coupled to the drive belt 52 for a shifting movement.

A view of the lifter 37 having extended lifting pins 43 is depicted inperspective in FIG. 7. All lifting pins 43 of the pin modules 42 areexemplarily depicted in a working position 44, in which the lifting pins43 are completely extended.

With several loader/unloader modules 31 arranged on the support beam 29,these can be positioned adjacent to one another, as depicted in FIG. 8,or be positioned independent of and separated from one another on thesupport beam 29, as depicted in FIG. 3. The lifters 37 or the pinmodules 42 can be positioned adjacent to one another in order to createa lifting region with a large surface area for larger workpiece parts tobe lifted. The module guides 36 are formed in such a way that these canbe nested, as shown in FIG. 8.

A further arrangement of the loader/unloader modules 31 for forming alarger lifting surface is depicted in FIG. 9. The two outer,motor-driven support beams 29 are moved towards each other. Here, therespective end faces of the lifters 37 of the left and right supportbeams 29 lie flush with one another, such that the lifters span thenon-driven support beam 30. To that end, a number of pin modules 42 areprovided on each lifter, covering half the width of the non-drivensupport beam 30.

A schematic sectional view of the workpiece support 8 from FIG. 2 isdepicted in FIG. 10. The workpiece support 8 is formed from a number ofprofile bodies 56 arranged next to one another, with gaps 57 formedbetween them. The longitudinal axes of the profile bodies 56 are alignedin the Y-direction. The profile bodies 56 extend with a length L (FIG.2) to the frame 58 of the workpiece support 9. The profile bodies 56 canbe formed, for example, as rectangular tubes having a width d and aheight h. The ratio of the length L of the profile bodies 56 to a widthd of the profile bodies 56 is preferably formed to be less than 100. Inparticular, with such ratios, a flexurally stiff profile body 56 isformed, which forms a stiff workpiece support portion 9 in the entirety,in order to resist the forces from movement of an abutting workpiece 14or a workpiece part 70. These rectangular tubes are arranged on or in acommon frame 58 and are aligned in such a way that the longitudinalsides form the gaps 57, and the upper narrow side or end face side 65 ofeach tube forms a support surface for a brush element 59. The width ofgaps 57 is greater than the diameter of the lifting pins 43 of thelifter, preferably the gap width corresponds to 1.5 to 3 times thediameter of the lifting pin 43. The spacing 68 of the gaps 57 inrelation to one another, i.e., the spacing of their gap center points,is less than 100 mm.

The brush element 59, which is formed in the form of a brush ledge, hasa plurality of bristle bundles 61 extending in the transverse andlongitudinal direction, which together form a workpiece support surfaceof the workpiece support 8. At least one outer row of bristle bundles 61is inclined laterally at an angle α in relation to the z-direction,along a longitudinal side of the brush element 59. The angle α is lessthan 45°. This bristle bundle 61 pointing outwards thus reduces thewidth of the gap 57, such that a space 67 remains, which is below avalue of 10 mm, such that a sufficiently sealed workpiece supportsurface for a workpiece part 70 resting on it is formed. In order tolift the workpiece part 70 in relation to the workpiece support plane orthe workpiece support surface, the lifting pins 43 can be guided upwardsthrough the gaps 57 and past the bristle bundles 61, such that raisingthe workpiece part 70 in relation to the workpiece support 8 is madepossible.

A work sequence for loading an unprocessed workpiece or a sheet steel 14and unloading at least one processed workpiece 70 with theloader/unloader 12 is described in more detail below in FIGS. 11 to 14.

In order to load a workpiece support 8 of a machine 1 with a sheet steel14, based on an arrangement of the first support portion 9 and thefurther support portion 10 according to FIG. 1, the loader/unloader 12is lowered to a lower hoisting level, such that a sheet steel 14provided on the workpiece stack is grasped by the grippers 38 of theloader/unloader modules 31. Then, the loader/unloader 12 is raised to aloading level, while the first support portion 9 is also simultaneouslyguided upwards. In addition, the frame 58 of the support portion 9 israised by the support frame 25 of the loader/unloader 12 from a supportsurface or from support points on the machine base frame 23 and movedupwards. Subsequently, the further support portion 10 retracts into theloading region 2 and is positioned below the loader/unloader 12 (FIG.11). Then, the sheet steel 14 is deposited on the further supportportion 10 by means of the loader/unloader 12 and pushed into theclamping claws 20 of the workpiece mover 19. After removing the vacuum,the further support portion 10 travels together with the workpiece mover19 into the unloading region 3. The support portion 9 is lowered to aworking level, such that the support portion 9 and the support portion10 are positioned on the same level, as is depicted in FIG. 12. Then, aprocessing of the sheet steel 14 (not depicted in more detail) and/or ofindividual workpiece parts takes place. Smaller workpiece parts can bedischarged from the machine via a gap between the first and furthersurface portions 9, 10. To unload larger workpiece parts 70, theloader/unloader modules 31 of the loader/unloader 12 are positioned on alifting level, in which the lifter 37 is positioned directly against anunderside of the workpiece support 8 (FIG. 13). After that or at thesame time, part holders 63 are positioned above the workpiece part 70 tobe lifted by means of a holder mover 64. The part holder or holders 63are lowered onto the workpiece part 70 to be raised and brought intocontact. Then, the lifting pins 43 of the pin modules 42 are controlledwith respect to the size of the workpiece part 70 to extend, such thatthose pins are guided through the gaps between the profile bodies of theworkpiece support 8 and come into contact with an underside of theworkpiece part 70. The part holders 63 are preferably formed as suctiongripping cups and grasp the workpiece part 70. Then, the workpiece part70 is moved vertically upwards with the part holder 63 (Z-direction).Because of the pressure force acting against the lifting pins 43, thelifting movement of the workpiece part 70, where appropriate in relationto the remaining grid 18, is supported. In the event of a tilting or acatching of the workpiece part 70 on the remaining grid 18, a release ofthe workpiece part 70 can thus be obtained. Then, the part holder 63 isshifted into a region outside support portions 9, 10, and the workpiecepart 70 is deposited. For example, a stacking device or receiving deviceor pallets can be provided on an end face side 66 of the machine baseframe 23, which serve for receiving the processed workpiece parts 70.

All cut workpiece parts 70 can be unloaded by this unloading processwith the loader/unloader module 31. Also, only those workpiece parts 70of a size which cannot be guided through a gap between the supportportion 9 and the further support portion 10, can be unloaded.

Then, the remaining grid 18 is transferred into the unloading region 3.Starting from the remaining grid 18 arranged in the unloading region 3(FIG. 14), the first support portion 9 is raised to a loading level. Thefurther support portion 10 is shifted into a loading position, as isdepicted in FIG. 11. Then, the remaining grid 18 can be supplieddownwards and deposited on the remaining grid pallet 16. A furtherloading cycle can begin.

A further alternative embodiment of the machine 1 having aloader/unloader 12 positioned in relation to the machine base frame 23is depicted in FIG. 15. This loader/unloader 12 has an individual frame72 and is allocated to an end face side 66 of the machine base frame 23,for example. The loading and unloading process of an unprocessedworkpiece or sheet steel 14 and cut workpiece parts 70 takes place inanalogy to the procedure described above according to FIGS. 11 to 14,wherein, in this example, only the first support portion 9 has to behorizontally shiftable in the X-direction, in order to be retracted andextended into the loader/unloader 12 or arranged above or below thesupport frame 25, as described in the loading region 2 of the machine 1in relation to FIGS. 11 to 14. In a further alternative machine 1, theworkpiece support 8 is formed continuously and can be shiftedhorizontally as a whole.

The separate allocation of the loader/unloader 12 in relation to themachine 1 has the advantage that the process time can be retrospectivelyincreased because of an automatic loading and unloading.

What is claimed is:
 1. A loader/unloader for a plate-shape workpieceprocessing machine, the loader/unloader comprising: two support strutsconfigured to be moved vertically with respect to a base frame of themachine; a support beam mounted on the support struts and shiftablehorizontally on the support struts; and a loader/unloader moduleshiftably received on the support beam and operable to lift a freelyseparated workpiece part and to grip an unprocessed plate-shapedworkpiece, the loader/unloader module comprising: a lifter controllablyoperable to raise the freely separated workpiece part disposed above themodule, and a gripper directed downwards and operable to retain theunprocessed, plate-shaped workpiece disposed below the module.
 2. Theloader/unloader of claim 1, wherein the lifter is positioned above thesupport beam, and the gripper is positioned below the support beam. 3.The loader/unloader of claim 1, wherein the lifter and the gripper areconnected to each other and to a common guide, the lifter and thegripper are shiftably mounted on the support beam by the common guide.4. The loader/unloader of claim 1, wherein the lifter is offset withrespect to the gripper along the support beam, such that in an endposition the lifter extends over one of the support struts.
 5. Theloader/unloader of claim 1, the loader/unloader module is one ofmultiple loader/unloader modules movable with respect to one anotherinto a configuration in which the lifters of the multiple modules aredisposed adjacent to each other to form a combined lifting surface. 6.The loader/unloader of claim 1, wherein the support beam comprises amotor-driven support beam shiftable along the support strut, theloader/unloader further comprising at least one shiftable and non-drivensupport beam arranged on the support strut.
 7. The loader/unloader ofclaim 6, wherein the at least one shiftable and non-driven support beamhas one or more gripping devices.
 8. The loader/unloader of claim 7,wherein several gripping devices of the at least one shiftable andnon-driven support beam are arranged on a carriage guided on the atleast one shiftable and non-driven support beam.
 9. The loader/unloaderof claim 1, wherein the support beam comprises one of two motor-drivensupport beams each carrying a loader/unloader module with a lifterextending transversely a sufficient distance from the support beam,wherein each of the two motor-driven support beams are positionable withend faces of the lifters abutting one another over a non-driven supportbeam therebetween.
 10. The loader/unloader of claim 1, wherein thelifter comprises several individually controllable pin modules, each pinmodule comprising one or more lifting pins operable to retract andextend.
 11. The loader/unloader of claim 1, wherein the gripper has atleast one suction element moveable up and down with respect to thesupport beam.
 12. The loader/unloader of claim 1, wherein the lifter andthe gripper are pneumatically operable by a common compressed airsupply.
 13. The loader/unloader of claim 1, wherein the loader/unloadermodule further comprises a hold-down device disposed adjacent thegripper and directed vertically downwards.
 14. A workpiece processingmachine configured to process plate-shaped workpieces into multipleseparate parts, the machine comprising: a workpiece support configuredto support both a workpiece to be processed during a processing of theworkpiece, and a processed workpiece part, and the loader/unloader ofclaim 1 selectively positioned vertically below or laterally adjacentthe workpiece support, wherein at least a part of the workpiece supportis shiftable horizontally above and below the loader/unloader.
 15. Themachine of claim 14, wherein a support surface of the workpiece supportis formed by several parallel profile bodies spaced apart to define gapstherebetween and arranged to support a workpiece.
 16. The machine ofclaim 15, wherein the lifter comprises several lifting pins defining aspacing relative to one another in a direction perpendicular to theprofile bodies and that corresponds to a spacing of the gaps.
 17. Themachine of claim 14, wherein the loader/unloader is disposed under aportion of the workpiece support, and wherein the support part of theworkpiece support is moveable in a vertical direction by means of theloader/unloader.
 18. A method of loading and unloading workpieces andprocessed workpiece parts on a workpiece support of a machine accordingto claim 14, wherein a vertical movement of the loader/unloader and ahorizontal movement of at least a portion of the workpiece support overor under the loader/unloader takes place between unloading of a freelyseparated workpiece part by means of the lifter of the loader/unloadermodule and loading of the workpiece support with a new workpiece.